The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-09-03
THE PROPOSED TUNNEL
Under the English Channel Between
England and France.
fScieutific American.1


This great enterprise, championed by
! Sir Edward Watkin, still lacks the au-
thority of Parliament, aud remains in
stetu q'to. The preliminary borings on
each side of the Channel nave been
carried few miles-far enough to de-
monstrate beyond question the com.
merciai and practical feasibility Of the
work.
To all the world outside OF Great
Britain the project commends itself as
desirable for the public convenience :
but the majority Of Englishmen disap-
prove 1t, owing to the mortal fear they
have of the French, They are afraid,
in case of war, it will be impossible to
prevent the Gauls from making a rush
through the tunnel and capturing the
entire country. Here are some of the
latest and brightest British ideas upon
the subject, expressed by the Broad
Arrow, a semi.official military organ
OF the army and navy:
"Fron q purely naval point of view.
the Channel tunnel scheme is most up-
desirable. Allow for instance that the
command OF the Channel passed from
our hands for the space of six hours
only, that is to say, that one of our
many vulnerable spots on the south
coast OF England was denuded of its
naval protection for the above,men-
toned space of time. There are MANY
ways in which this dire result could be
brought about: TOR instance, q false
alarm raised purposely at either end of
the station to lure the ships away: sec.
ondly, sufficiently strong squadron to
enact the part OF u forlorn hope and
sacrifice themselves, caring nothing so
the landing be effected; and lastly.
though by no means the least unlikely.
there is the fog and thick weather. in
which hotilia could reach our shores.
we say by no means the least unlikely.
because the thick weather that would
aid them in their unseen passage across
the Channel would also aid them TO as
semble at their point o'al2pui for their
dash across. From Soreham.
where there is tidal harbor easy Nof
access, and with no particular means OF
defense, the Channel tunnel at Dover
is within striking distance of an enemy
who shall have six hours at his dis
posal. Aided as he naturally would be
by the South Coast Railway and con-
figuous lines, with such prize in view
as the tunnel, it may be doubted if the
hostile general would take moro notice
Of Brighton than calling for the mayor
and such resident notabilities as he
could "grab." Then when our
squadrons returned to their stations. |
hey would find themselves powerless
any longer to protect these shores. in
of the pernicious Channel
tunnel pouring forth the legions of the |
hostile army into this country, assum.
ug that the first corps that landed had |
oeen successful in their operations TO !
AXE the tunnel. Sir Edward
Watkin would, in his great scheme.
create for us military frontier which |
We do not covet, compel US to have re.
course to conscription, to treble our
naval and military armaments, and to |
place an inviting gateway at Dover in |
he shape of a fortress, which, if CAP
ured by stratagem or coup lie main.
would never be restored until q ruinons
ribute sank us for ages into the condi-
ion of fifth or sixth rate power.